Doula Talk: Postpartum, Babies and the Battle for Sleep

44 - The Realities of Traveling with a Baby

• Doula Deb • Season 1 • Episode 44

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If you are planning a road trip, flying to see family, or even braving a day-long outing, this episode gives you the exact tools to prepare well, keep your baby regulated, and protect your peace. Hit play, pack with confidence, and travel like a pro.

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The content in this podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider for personalized advice and information.

Deb (00:50)
Hey friends, it's Deb and Today we are diving into a topic that makes even the calmest parents break out in a nervous sweat, and that is traveling with a baby. You know that moment when you're packed everything but the kitchen sink and your baby chooses boarding time for a blowout and the person in 14B looks like they're silently judging your entire life. Yeah, that.

So today we're going to get honest about actually looks like. We're talking the meltdowns, the magic, and everything in between. We're going to talk about how to pack smart without losing your mind, survival hacks for car and plane travel, and how to manage sleep, feeding, and overstimulation when routines go out the window.

because here's a spoiler alert, you cannot control everything about traveling with your baby, but you can control your mindset and be prepared. so let's buckle up my friend, it's about to get real.

Let's start with a truth bomb. There's no such thing as a perfect trip with a baby. Even the most organized, easygoing parents have moments of chaos. That influencer on Instagram? The one with the spotless white stroller on cobblestone streets? Yeah, she probably cropped out that diaper blowout. So traveling with a baby isn't about perfection. It is all about flexibility. Think improv theater meets parenthood. You show up prepared.

and then you just have to roll with it. It is not the time to try new things. There's no experimenting with new bottles if your baby is exclusively definitely no new sleep gadgets the night before your trip. We need to stick with what is already working. All right. now that we've set our expectations, let's get practical.

Okay, let's start packing. The part where parents start spiraling. Suddenly it feels like your baby just needs a U-Haul and why are we even going on a trip anyways? So here's the truth. You don't need everything, but you do need the right things. Think of the top five categories. Feeding, sleep, diapering, travel gear, and then your own essentials.

So let's start with the most important survival tool which is food.

First, we're nursing. While you're feeding your baby before your trip, make note of what you use. I'm thinking nursing pads, what bras you're using, tank tops that you like the most, the shirts that will make you feel most comfortable and are discreet enough to nurse in you need to do that. If you're not comfortable nursing in public, now's the time to practice.

because traveling with your baby is really unpredictable and you have to be able to feed them whenever is needed to help soothe or comfort them in desperate times. And I want you to keep in mind that nursing in public is legal in all 50 states in the US. And I'm gonna go ahead and include the law in the show notes that states that some families like to print this out and keep it in their diaper bag in case anyone gives them a hard time. People are just so weird about

And the funny thing is not like they can even see anything with your baby's head blocking your boob. And I've never really got it, honestly. I've never told anyone to eat their lunch on a toilet, which is like so crazy. And I've never eaten under a blanket either. And I don't know why we ask babies to do that. One little hack I like to tell parents is having...

⁓ nursing tank under a normal t-shirt. If you lift your t-shirt up and your nursing tank down, you are covered on all spots except for right where the baby is latched and your baby's head is covering it. So that can be perfectly fine and if people don't like it, they can just look away.

So anyway, let's get back on topic.

next let's move on to pumping.

The number one tip is get a pumping bag. If you are bringing the pump, whether it's the big one like the Spectra or a wearable version, a bag for your pump and all your supplies is a really great idea. It needs to be portable and able to take with you if you're needing to pump on the go, you have everything you need right away. And, and,

And bonus, if you're going back to work, you can use it to and from work.

I have a couple options that I like for wearable pumps because they're really compact and easy to access on the go. And then if you have like a spectra or a bigger size pump, I have a couple other options for that as well. I like ones that have easy access to the pump and all your supplies, but also pockets and things for all the other stuff that I'm going to tell you to keep in your bag.

I honestly have not found any name brand bags that I love for various reasons, but all of the ones that I'm linking to Amazon are all really affordable. Back when I was pumping exclusively for my daughter about 10 years ago, there was really one bag out there and it was like over $100 and I just was not willing to pay for that. So I actually ended up using a gym bag with

using the shoe area for my pump so I could just easily open it and use it right away. with that said, here are the things that I want you to make sure that you have in your pump bag for your trip or even if you're building this bag for going back to work. Obviously, number one, your breast pump. Make sure that there's an adequate space for this and it's easily accessible.

You want to make sure that the flanges fit in there, tubing if that's part of your pump, and anything else that your pump requires to use, including that power cord. Do not forget the power cord, it uses batteries, make sure you have some extra batteries. The next thing is going to be storage bottles. You want to have a couple extra storage bottles. Definitely if you are traveling, you're not sure how long you're going to be traveling and storing that milk.

And then what goes with that ice packs. We want to keep that milk chilled as much as possible and

So make sure that those storage bottles has a space to include an ice pack

we want to think about how are you going to clean this on the go? I really like those wipes to clean things down in a pinch so that you're transferring your milk into your storage bottles and then you can wipe down your pump parts and anything that you're using on the go. There's also a spray to clean the pump parts on the go.

but I find that the wipes are just the most convenient The next one is going to be a nursing cover or a wrap if you're using the spectra where the bottles are hanging off. I really like the shawl looking things or the wraps that really look cool. And especially if you're going on the airplane, this can be really nice for using for a nursing cover or a pumping cover. And it really just looks like you're wearing a scarf.

or a shawl. There's some really cute patterns too, so I'll link those below. If you are using the Spectra, make sure that you're packing your pumping bra. I have one that I like that I have linked below as well. And then I like to have antibacterial wipes to clean surfaces of wherever you're pumping. especially if we're on the go in the airport,

You know, we never know where people are coming from and where they've been. So if you want to wipe down your trays or any surfaces that you're going to be pumping on, I feel like that is a really key part to this whole process. Some pumping bags actually have a a mat kind of like a diaper changing mat where you can wipe down and use that as a clean surface for pumping.

And then next one is like a wet or dry bag for your pump parts. This is just a way to store them while they are still a little bit wet or if they're dirty before cleaning. Now a Ziploc works completely fine in a pinch, but a wet bag is a little better in my opinion because it's washable and it's also waterproof. you can also use this for soiled

diapers or soiled clothes in your diaper bag. If you are using ziplocks, just plan to bring extra ones. They tend to get stinky after times because of the milk drippings in there if you're not washed or rinsed regularly. So if you're not able to rinse those ziplock bags out or replace them often, the wet bag is the way to go. So the other things to consider are

If you're going to be storing milk, make sure you have some milk storage bags. Wherever destination you're at, you can always run to the store and grab those at just normal retailers like Walmart and Target. If you run out of nursing pads, same thing. I mean, you can bring a few if you need to go purchase some more. That is not a big deal. And then if you happen to use a lactation massager or you regularly use

nipple cream, make sure to include that. Now the last one is a manual breast pump and this is kind of your backup especially when you're traveling is say you are in a place and your pump has lost battery. I want you to have a backup option to be able to pump and relieve your breasts and not get infections on the go and this is a really

great option when you just don't want to pull out your whole pump. the one I like is the Mendele simple version. There's several different versions. I'll go ahead and link my favorite down below. It's really super simple. It has a bottle and a flange and then just a simple hand pump. Some people actually get more milk out of those than an electric pump. So you might want to play around with what works best for you.

Okay, so we've talked about nursing, we've done pumping. Now we're gonna talk about bottle feeding. So the first thing you need, obviously you're gonna need bottles for your bottle-fed baby. So bring as many bottles as it takes to get you through your busiest day of your trip. If you're going to be on the go from wake up to bedtime, I suggest bringing a full day's worth of bottles so you don't have stop and wash throughout the day.

And then making sure that you're bringing a travel bottle brush and some dish soap. Those sample sizes of dish soap are perfect for cleaning on the go with a wet bag so that all those dirty bottles or those bottles that are not fully dry can go in this ⁓ waterproof bag for washing later or for a place to dry.

I really like the Mom Cozy Travel Bottle Brush, Soap and Drying Rack. It is all really compact. It opens up and you can just set it in your hotel next to the sink to dry. But it has the brush, the soap and everything you need. So I'll go ahead and link that below. All right, so for all those formula fed babies, I really like to think about convenience and time savers. So

If you can get your baby's formula in the pre-made small bottles, I really suggest having a few and throw those into your diaper bag. Sometimes that's a lot easier than lugging around the powder and then trying to find filtered water to mix with. And as far as warming the milk, you do what feels comfortable for you. Some babies really like their milk on the warmer side, so asking for a cup of hot water to warm the milk will completely do in a pinch.

But you can invest in these new milk warming devices and that can be good option. But just remember that those either need to be plugged in to warm the milk or charged ahead of time and that can take a while to warm up your baby's milk. So if they really want a bottle like right now, that can be a little bit of a problem. Now, thinking of feeding

your baby, whether it's nursing or by bottle. One of my favorite things to bring for comfortability of feeding is a travel neck pillow. It really makes a surprisingly good elbow rest for your feeding your baby and holding your baby while they're sleeping, you really don't want to develop carpal tunnel sitting for hours on a plane and you're holding your baby.

getting that neck pillow right under your elbow is so helpful. And the best thing is it doesn't take up much room for traveling.

And then don't forget about feeding cleanup. Remember that feeding a baby can be really messy, so be prepared with plenty of burp and or bibs for all of those inevitable spit ups and sloppy eaters. And for those older babies, don't underestimate how long you'll be away from food options. And bonus, snacks are the

Ultimate distraction technique for lap babies and toddlers alike.

Okay, so we're on to the next category and that is sleep and comfort. We'll want to create your baby's familiar environment as much as possible on the go. So that means you need to make sure that you have a place for your baby to sleep at each destination and that might be bringing a pack and play with you if you're in the car or a travel crib or calling ahead to your destination to reserve that travel crib or renting one a travel rental company.

There are some really great options out there. Rent4Baby.com, or Babyquip.com, and I'll have all of those links in the show notes. These are places where you can rent anything from a crib to a stroller to high chairs to toys, all kinds of stuff that you would need while you're away if you just really don't want to bring it with you.

I'm not going to lie, it is not cheap and it definitely adds up if you're going on a longer trip. But this can be a really convenient time saver

because you're not having to lug everything with you. Some things to focus on for sleep and comfort would be making sure that you have all your familiar items to recreate the sleep environment away from home. So we want to keep everything as similar as possible including the sleep sack or swaddle that they really enjoy, a favorite lovey if they already have one, a favorite pacifier, and backups because it is inevitable to lose them. So make sure you have

backups of your favorite pacifier and understand you can always buy more at the closest store. And then a white noise machine. You can use an app but be mindful to turn off the notifications so they don't wake up your baby in the middle of sleeping. have a really great portable sound machine that I will include in the show notes. I wish the tone was a little deeper but it actually works in a pinch and it is rechargeable.

and lasts for several nights without charging. So that's a great option for the car or in a hotel and to just throw in your diaper bag for day to day. Another thing to include is a lightweight blanket. This can be really great for privacy, whether you're nursing or the baby just needs some comfort or blocking out the light when overstimulation hits and they really need a nap. You can use this.

while you're baby wearing or when your baby just needs to take a break from the outside world and you just don't have a place to go. And then like a portable nightlight. Having a little light at night can help babies feel more secure to see their surroundings when they're waking up. I like the red colored rechargeable nightlight that can be compact but bright enough to help us all see without bumping our toes when doing diaper changes. I'll go ahead and link that below. And then the other one that I really like is a book light that I clipped to my shirt.

to do those middle of the night baby care without waking up all the other family members.

All right, so we're on to diapering. for your diaper

Bring the diapers you think you need for the day and then double that because there's always going to be blowouts and something always happens so that you need a little extra.

and buy the rest when you arrive at your destination. If you're going straight to your destination, this is the easiest way to go.

But other than that, there's no need to pack giant packs of diapers into your luggage. And same with car you have the space and you want to do that, great, but always easy to just go to the store and grab some diapers when you get there. One pack of wipes will get you to your destination as well as a small tube of diaper cream. Make sure if you are doing...

flight that is under 3.4 ounces for TSA and that's the current standard right now but listening to this later look up the current standards for gels and creams through TSA. You can find smaller tubes of diaper cream in the travel section.

But if you don't find the one that your baby likes, you can always buy a travel container and just fill it up with the airport approved size.

the next thing I want you to make sure to have in your diaper bag is a changing pad It's always a good idea to have a clean place to change your baby in a pinch, even if it's on your lap or in the trunk of your car on the side of the road. They are easy to clean, they're waterproof and compact to store away. Most diaper bags have this already.

There are some really great compact ones that you can buy separately that have like a wipe container area and things like that if you need to buy separate. And then in your diaper bag, I really think it's a great idea to have extra outfits not only for your baby, but you. You can almost count on a baby doing a blowout at the most inconvenient time while traveling, so plan accordingly.

I always say two extra outfits for your baby is advised and don't say I didn't warn you, okay? And then again, I'm going to emphasize the wet and dry bag for messy moments. When, not if, they blow out, you can use this wet and dry bag to store any of dirty clothes, keeping the rest of the bag clean and dry. And again, a Ziploc works just as well if you don't have one. Just throw a couple extra into your diaper bag for those messy moments.

All right, so now we're gonna talk about specific travel gear and this goes for any travel, but the first thing is some type of baby wearing contraption, whether it's a carrier or a wrap. I really like to have something that's really lightweight, soft carrier.

that is going to be worth gold in the airports. When you're going through security, you will really appreciate having both hands free to get everything onto the belt and through smoothly. And the next one is a compact stroller to come with you wherever you go. You can usually bring this through the security and check at the gate, which is a lifesaver if you're traveling alone with your baby. You can use that basket to store all that extra stuff you packed for them. And don't forget that the stroller goes through a

metal detector too, so all of your items and your baby need to come out of there while you're doing that through security. I have a link to a really fancy one that goes from the car to the stroller in seconds and you can put that on the belt very easily. Or another option would be just a lightweight umbrella stroller like one linked below.

If before you have your baby and you know that you're gonna be traveling within the first year, you might wanna consider that you're purchasing that car seat. I like to look for a lightweight version and learn how to use it without the base by using the lap and the shoulder belts. This is gonna be key when you're traveling because you're not gonna wanna be bringing that base with you everywhere you go. If you skipped the infant car seat,

and got the convertible car seat version, you can check it at the counter if you didn't buy a ticket for your baby But do yourself a favor and get a car seat bag that you can throw it on like a backpack and carry it easily through the airport before checking it. I like to pick a bright color like red or something and you're able to find it easily at the oversized baggage area at pickup.

⁓ For flights, you have the option to buy a separate ticket for your baby under two, and you can bring your car seat onto the airplane and strap it in like you would in the car. If you don't want to buy that extra car seat, most airlines allow children under two to board as a lap child. But think about that. Do you want to have your baby on your lap for the whole flight?

I personally didn't mind it because my kids were Velcro babies anyway and if they had a separate seat they probably would not use it. They would want to sit on my lap So to me it felt like a waste of money but if your baby is under two, is squirmy and you could really use the extra space go ahead and get that extra seat so that you guys can spread out without bothering anyone else. Well except for a few kicks of the passenger in front of them. Oops.

Another thing to consider bringing with you is a simple first aid kit. We're thinking band-aids, ointment, itch cream, especially for those allergy babies, are all a good idea to have with you. And a little bonus with band-aids, that sometimes is a nice distraction helper for toddlers. They love to open them and just stick them all over themselves. And then don't forget any compact toys or things to keep toddlers busy.

going to the dollar store and loading up on little games, trinkets, or stickers. They love stickers. Even a little notebook and crayons, or better yet, ⁓ no mess markers set with that special paper that those markers don't work unless it's on that special paper. That is the modern miracle on travel.

the last category is you. It's really important that you have all the things that you need while traveling with your baby.

I can't emphasize this enough, a change of clothes. It's inevitable that you're going to get something on you and you're going to start stinking like puke or poop or both. So having a backup outfit, even if it's just a simple sweatsuit is a lifesaver when you need it. And then snacks and gum. Please don't forget you when we're talking about snacks and all the chaos of packing and getting everyone on this trip.

you matter to keep this whole thing together. You need to pack sustainable and protein packed snacks for yourself. So when you forget to eat breakfast on the way out the door, you can eat your snacks on the go.

and water. Bring your water bottle empty through security and fill it on the other side. You and your kids will be thirsty, I promise you that. they always say that you need to to 12 ounces of water per hour of travel, whether it's on the plane or a car trip.

do yourself a favor and invest in a small battery pack for your diaper bag or purse. This will save you when you can't find or don't have the time to wait for charging in the wall and your phone is about to die because your toddler has been using it the whole flight. So make sure you have like a little battery pack to keep things all charged up.

And then lastly, any personal hygiene items that you may need to make you feel like a normal human. We're talking chapstick, lotion, makeup, whatever you need

is really great to have on hand.

Okay, so that's my general list, but we're going to shift a little and talk about specifically car travel with your baby.

car travel sounds easier, right? You can stop when you need to, you can play your favorite playlist, and you can even sip coffee in peace. Well, until your baby decides that they are so done in the car seat, about halfway to grandma's. So here's some tips to make your car trips smoother. I want you to plan around naps, but stay flexible. If your baby sleeps in the car really well, start to drive near nap time. If not,

Jump in the car as soon as they wake up to get the best mood as long as possible and make sure that you have built-in food and nap times. But most importantly, don't panic if this does not go perfectly, because I can almost you that it won't. So be flexible as much as you number two is build in those stretch breaks. Plan to stop every two to three hours, not only for feeds, but for

walking around, wiggle time, fresh air, that easy five-hour straight shot drive without stops to your BFFs is now going to take six to seven hours. So plan accordingly. It's not recommended to feed your baby while you're while in the car seat because they can't burp or have a clear airway in the moving car. So it's best to plan for stopping when the baby needs to eat. I don't even want to tell you about how badly it went when I was trying to

nurse in the moving car. That was not my most brilliant mom moment, that's for sure. So we're not even going to go there. Number three is keep things calm. If your baby enjoys white noise, it can be really helpful in the car to have that portable sound machine option. You can use apps on your phone or your iPad.

but if you don't have access to internet, sometimes those things don't work. then in a pinch, you don't have anything, turn your radio to static and that can work too.

And then keep in mind that we want to keep things calm in the car so too many toys on road trips can over stimulate.

Number four is watch the temperature in your car. Car seats can heat up fast and when you're taking those breaks, check your baby's back for sweat. And if it is hot, turn the temp down, remove the blanket. you can also get car seat fans that can hook onto the car seat or onto a headrest to circulate the air a little bit better for your baby.

And then number five, keep essentials close. So if you're in the car, you want to make sure that your diaper kit, your wipes, a few toys, pacifier, and even a prepared bottle is within arm's length so you don't have to fully unpack your whole car to get help for your baby quickly.

All right, so we're going to talk about some products now that are not make or break, but can really help make the car travel a little easier. The first one is a backseat baby mirror. This is so you can see them. Are they sleeping, playing? Are they freaking out? it's so nice to know that you can check on your baby with a quick glance in the mirror. And nowadays, if you want to be fancy, there are

baby car monitors that you can clip onto your dashboard. But to me, a mirror works just fine.

the next one is that clip-on stroller or car seat fan. And that can help with the better circulation and keeping them cool during that hot summer travel. You can wrap the legs around a car seat handle or prop on a table at your destination. And usually they are rechargeable.

The other one that might be really nice for those babies who sleep in the dark best is these window shades and they can block out the sun from your baby's eyes so that they can sleep in peace. And then a car seat cover. And we're talking about your car's seat, not the car seat that your baby is in. if your baby's already eating and you're going to be handing snacks back there,

A car seat cover to protect your car will save you a lot of hassle dealing with stains or smashed in crumbs on your then if they're wearing shoes and still backward facing, this actually helps protect the back seat as well from getting super gross. These are usually all waterproof and you can just wipe down the surface with a quick wipe and you don't have to detail your car after your kids are done destroying it.

Again, I will go ahead and link that below.

Alright,

Now let's tackle the big one, airplane travel.

If the idea of flying with your baby makes you break out in a cold sweat, you are not alone and I promise that you can do this. So here's how to make it work. Number one, book smart. Choose flight times that match your baby's natural rhythms. If your baby is a flexible baby and a good easy sleeper, choose flights near nap or bedtime But if not, I'd really suggest daytime travel so that they can rest fully at night.

And the next thing is avoid tight layovers. through the airport with a diaper bag is not a core memory that you need,

Number two is gate check your gear. and lightweight car seat are lifesavers in these instances. These are the last things on the plane and the first things off when you check them at the gate. And they're usually waiting for you right as you exit the plane. Number three is feed during takeoff and landing. Whether nursing, bottling, or just using a pacifier, it really helps equalize ear pressure.

is a tough one because you can time all you want, but you can't not feed your baby if they're hungry. But it does help if they're a little bit hungry to be able to take some milk during takeoff and landing.

At the very least, they don't want milk, getting them to suck and swallow will help. Using a pacifier or even a clean finger works in a pinch. Number four, dress in layers. Planes are so unpredictable with temperature, so be ready for hot and cold. Wearing that you can easily take on and off can be key.

Number five, keep one organized carry-on under the seat in front of you. That probably is gonna be your diaper bag and that includes your diapers, wipes, milk, pacifiers, small toys, and a change of clothes. And then think about your trip in 15 minute intervals. You're gonna rotate feeding, play, and rest. These short cycles can keep everybody calm. And then lastly, release the guilt. ⁓

You know, we all know babies cry and you are not ruining everybody's flight. Most people are a lot kinder than you think and those who aren't, they can buy noise canceling your headphones.

Alright, so some of those recommended air travel products are a compact stroller. There is the Baby Zen Yo-Yo or the GB Pocket. I'll link those below that are really compact and easy to get through the airport. And then a travel-specific baby carrier, something that's easy and soft and light that you can pop on and off easily through the airport or on the airplane. The portable white noise machine, I'm going to mention it

because it can really help babies to calm down. and then a pumping bag if you are pumping.

If you don't need it on the plane to pump, you can put it in your checked luggage. But if you rely on pumping at all for your supply or are nervous about it being lost in luggage, you can bring it through security. It will most likely be counted as a carry-on bag

you will have to pull the pump out as you go through the metal detector, much like a CPAP machine or a laptop. Most airlines allow a standard carry-on and a diaper bag while traveling with a baby, but make sure to check with your airline to confirm what's allowed so that you're not surprised at the gate while boarding.

And one thing I do wanna talk about is your pumped milk as you're going through the airport. I did a little research for this episode, while you're going through security, TSA only lets you bring the amount of what your baby will need for your flight.

you need to plan accordingly. If you are currently pumping, you can plan also for expressing on the plane as well. So you might not need as much as you think, but you can put any extra frozen pumped milk in your checked bag with ice if you really need that for your destination. there's some really great articles about traveling with breast milk.

and I'll go ahead and link that below. It has some really great information and I'll give you a quick highlight of that. The first thing you wanna do is just let TSA know that, I have breast milk and I'm bringing that through security. And you stay organized.

you will have to remove your milk and the cooler items for screening. So having them organized and readily available can help expedite that process. And people behind you will thank you for this later. So with all of that and traveling with breast milk, you want to build in extra time into your travel because going through security can take a long time.

Even without the if you're bringing breast milk along, that is going to slow things down quite a bit. Add an extra 30 minutes to your schedule that you were planning for your trip. And then lastly, always advocate for yourself. Make sure that you familiarize yourself with all the current TSA rules and regulations around traveling with breast milk before your trip.

And I personally think it's really important to keep a printed copy in your bag and have the TSA site open on your phone in case you run into an uninformed TSA agent. This is not something they deal with all the time and not every agent is up to speed on the regulations around breast milk. And so it's OK to bring it out and say, hey, this is actually the regulation or may I please talk to a supervisor around this? They should not be.

dumping your breast milk and really need to advocate for yourself. I will also include the TSA customer service number in the show notes so you can have that resource on hand you can call customer service at that time.

And then here's just a little side note. If you're flying with your breast milk and your baby and you're bringing your stroller along, using the stroller basket to stash all your stuff and lug through the airport, it is really helpful. But just understand that you have to take everything out of your stroller as you're going through security. And even that stroller needs to go through the x-ray machine. So...

understanding how to break it down, how to put it on the belt, and there are some strollers that you have to take the wheels off to get it through the x-ray machine. So make sure that you're packing a baby carrier and you can hold your baby while your stroller and everything is going through security. And I would also suggest using the family line. Those lines tend to be a lot less pressure of getting through security and just take your time. Don't worry about it. You're going to get through.

Okay, so that was a lot. I understand. But I have a couple more things I want to give you about sleeping, feeding, and overstimulation on the go. No matter how you travel,

This is a real challenge. Helping your baby stay regulated when everything is new and loud. Travel can really throw off the rhythms, but rest is still possible and so important.

Keep the bedtime routine cues, not the rigid times. So whatever bedtime routine and nap time routine you have at home, make sure to replicate those in this new place, but don't be rigid on the timing of these things happening. There's always gonna be something that throws things off or your flight gets in late. So don't worry about the timing as much as making sure those cues are staying the same. those familiar signals

like the same song, the same lovey, the same scents, and lighting to signal that it sleep and that it's okay to relax. Be flexible and expect naps in motion. You get what you can take on traveling and all naps.

are great. And then be sure feeds more often because travel dehydrates everyone and also babies can get pretty distracted while you're traveling and not finish a full feed each time you're offering it. And then build in those quiet breaks into those busy days, whether it's a walk, a dark room, a little snuggle reset, even if they don't fully nap or get a short nap, at least they can get a break from the stimulation.

which will help not only your baby, but also you.

we're going to talk about mindset and letting go.

your baby is like a crash course in mindfulness. Things will go wrong and that is okay. We are not here to chase perfection. You are nurturing connection and modeling adaptability. Remember that every small win counts. Every messy moment is still part of your story and your calm is your baby's anchor. So take a deep breath and say to yourself, I can stay calm even when plans change

and my baby feels safe when I do too. So to wrap this up, here's what I want you to remember. There is no perfect trip, just memorable ones. Make sure to take photos of your good memories and the messy have a lot of laughs about those messy ones later. Prepare what you can and let go of the rest. make sure to protect your peace, protect your humor, and stay flexible.

if you love this episode, share it with a friend who's prepping for their first trip with the baby or post it on your stories and tag me at doula.deb so I can cheer you on. And don't forget to grab my free travel with baby essentials checklist in the show notes. if you are struggling with sleep, make sure to sign up for the wait list for my rooted rest sleep foundations course, where you can get more information about gentle sleep support without sleep coaching.

that includes even on the go and being flexible. So safe travels my friend and remember you've got this blowouts and all.


Head Shot

Doula Deb

Host